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Former Grant County High School band director pleads guilty to sexual abuse

DRY RIDGE, Ky. -- A Grant County High School director of bands arrested in September 2013 and eventually charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse with two teenaged girls pleaded guilty in court Monday.

Kenneth Owens,34, who also goes by the name David, pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl in Kenton County court as part of a deal to avoid further prosecution in three other Kentucky counties.

In September 2013, Owens was charged with having sexual relations with a 16-year-old in Grant, Boone and Rowan counties.

Owens was arraigned on additional charges of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse of a 14-year-old in Kenton County in January. That teenager came forward after seeing media coverage of Owens' arrest in September.

Owens originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

As part of his agreement with the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney’s Office on Monday, Owens will be sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse with a female under 16 years of age.

“Yeah, absolutely I think he got what he deserved," said Rob Sanders, the Commonwealth Attorney for Kenton County.

Sanders added he felt fairly certain no one no other victims of Owens were in the community.

"Anytime you have someone who is in contact with this many underage children, there's always going to be concern.That said, we don't have any evidence at this juncture – no one has come forward and said they are a victim as well," Sanders said..

In the initial charges, investigators said Owens performed sexual acts with the minor on two separate occasions in April of 2011.

Livingood said school administrators first heard of rumors about Owens and immediately investigated, later turning the case over to the Grant County Sheriff's Office, the Commonwealth Attorney and the Educational Professional Standards Board.

"I assure you that the administration of the Grant County School District acted swiftly and decisively to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. That is, and will always be our primary concern," Livingood said in a letter sent to parents. "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone concerned and/or involved."